Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

GOVEK

B y the time Govek made it over to Miranda, he'd overheard almost all of Yerina's admission. And so had everyone else in the vicinity.

There were so many orcs and humans gathered around that Govek felt like his flesh was blistered from their penetrating stares, his ears burned from their clamoring voices.

But Miranda reached out to him and he drew strength as he moved to her side. He wished he could pick her up and cart her off into the woods and pretend that none of these other beings existed.

"Are you well, Miranda?" he asked quietly.

"I'm perfectly fine." She gave him a smile that helped ease some of his tension.

"Govek." A light brush against the back of his arm made him shudder. Yerina regarded him with her large, watery eyes that had always caused him to bend to her will .

Never again.

"Govek," Yerina's voice broke. "I've missed you."

"Missed me so much that you spread falsehoods about me."

Yerina straightened and wrung her hands. "I don't know what you've heard but?—"

"Why would I ever want to be with someone that is so hateful toward me they would gladly ruin my life rather than be near me?"

"No! It wasn't like that. You don't understand. I did it out of love for you," Yerina pleaded, her eyes flooding. "I couldn't bear the thought of you finding another before we could make amends. We're meant to be together, Govek. You see that, don't you? I'm the only woman who could ever understand you."

"You understand nothing but my abilities to hunt, craft, and offer you boons." Govek nearly snarled, his blood heating. To think this was the woman he adored for so long. To think he had prostrated himself for her sideways glances. Allowed her to spread vile lies about him for months out of guilt that he'd truly done wrong by her in the end.

He was a fool. He would not be one again.

"I'm sorry, all right?" Yerina stepped forward to take his arm, but he snatched it away from her. "I'll make it up to you. I'll make sure the rumors about you stop. And I promise I'll prove to you that I truly am the best woman for you."

"You could never?—"

"Go ahead and try, Yerina. You think you can undo the lies you've spread so easily? I'm willing to bet you'll never manage it," Miranda said.

Yerina's face contorted into rage so vile that Govek tugged Miranda behind him. "You'll see. I'll prove to both of you that I?—"

"What is going on here?"

The booming voice of Headman Gerald rose above all other voices. Yerina came upright and paled, tears instantly halted.

"Yerina." The headman's eyes narrowed into a deep scowl as the crowd parted for him to come through. Fades, every being at the trade was watching this. "I told you to apologize to Govek, and make right the wrongs you have committed, not attack him and his companion."

"I did apologize." Yerina sounded more like a child than a grown woman.

What Govek had ever seen in her, he would never know.

"Headman Gerald." Govek's father came forward as well. The headman tensed slightly and Govek knew why. Chief Ergoth's face was flat, his eyes fiery.

He was still seething about Karthoc's warriors being invited to trade.

"What is going on here?" Chief Ergoth asked cooly, and the hush over the crowd was instant. No one even whispered.

Headman Gerald had not lost his voice. "It was brought to my attention very recently that Yerina lied about Govek attacking her."

Chief Ergoth gave Govek a sidelong look before saying, "Are you certain that your source for this is sound? You have proof of his innocence?"

That punch rocked right through Govek. He'd known his father had likely believed Yerina's lies, but having that confirmed felt like fire in his belly. It burned away at his already fraying control .

Cool relief tucked around his arm and he looked down to find Miranda had wrapped him up, was stroking his hand. He worked a deep breath of crisp morning air into his lungs.

"Yerina admitted it to me herself." Headman Gerald crossed his arms over his chest. "Yerina?"

The woman fidgeted. Puffing up her chest, her lip quivered, and her eyes filled with pretty, shimmering tears again. "I... only spoke a few mild untruths because I was a little angry. I thought it would force him to confront me, and we would make up. I never thought they would spread so much. You wouldn't even come to the trade to talk to me, Govek. You just shut me out completely. What else was I supposed to do? I cared for you so much! I still do."

She broke into pitying sobs and it made his stomach go sour. No natural tears could look that pretty.

And the truth of it all smacked him.

Fades be fucked . He really hadn't done anything wrong. He hadn't gone too far with her. He hadn't hurt her or frightened her. It had all been manipulation—a way to keep him under her control.

But no longer.

"Now, child, please calm," Chief Ergoth said soothingly, and each word grated against Govek. "Your apology is accepted. Please dry your tears."

"Excuse me?" Miranda snapped and all eyes latched onto her. "I think it's Govek's choice whether he wants to forgive her."

The way Chief Ergoth looked at Miranda made Govek's blood go still.

"Quite right," Headman Gerald said before Chief Ergoth could make a sound. "Govek, what can we do to make amends? "

Govek's spine straightened. They wanted him to decide what to do? He had no idea, nor did he want such authority.

He looked to Miranda. "What say you? You were insulted as well."

"I think that?—"

"I am still chief of this clan."

All eyes fell on Ergoth and Govek found him still holding that rage-soaked fire behind his eyes. His face was a mask of pleasantry even as his words were clipped. "I am still chief of Rove Wood Clan, and this weighty matter should be decided by me ."

Govek blinked, thrown off by this sudden change from his father's more congenial and controlled mannerisms.

Headman Gerald sighed heavily, clearly exhausted. "Of course, Chief Ergoth. What do you suggest then?"

"I believe the woman being forced to admit her wrongdoing here, in front of so many witnesses, is punishment enough. And I would not risk the peace between our peoples by suggesting anything more severe."

"Oh my god," Miranda said with a shake of her head and Ergoth made a low threatening sound that instantly had Govek's claws extending.

But Miranda continued. "In addition , I think it's reasonable to say she isn't allowed at the trades until Govek says it's all right. And she should be disallowed from having any contact with Govek."

"That sounds more than fair," Headman Gerald said quickly, looking truly relieved by the suggestion. "Robire? Please escort Yerina back to Oakwall."

"Wait!" Yerina said. "Govek, just let me speak to you in private for a few more moments, please ."

But Robire, a burly man who was one of the lead guards for Oakwall, already had Yerina by the arm and was pulling her away. The crowd made a wide berth for them.

The voices rose again, and Headman Gerald called, "That's it then. Let's resume this trade."

Chief Ergoth moved to step toward Miranda, his sharp eyes narrowed on her, his posture radiated his fury.

Govek balled his fists and light sparked behind his eyes as his magic simmered. It didn't fucking matter if Ergoth was his father. He'd punch the chief's jaw clean off his face like he'd done to Wolvc if he dared to harm Miranda.

"Miranda," Chief Ergoth said smoothly, raking the tone over Govek's frazzled nerves. "I would like a word with you. Alone ."

"I'm sorry, Chief Ergoth, but I'm too tired at the moment. Govek, will you take me home?" Miranda said quickly, her warm hand pushed at the small of his back to force him away. Her prompting won in the end. He could not refuse a direct request from her.

And Chief Ergoth did not try to argue again. There were too many eyes for him to try to force the hand of one of his clan's precious females.

"Huh, looks like Hilva dropped her cup," Miranda said as her eyes lingered on an abandoned mug on the mossy ground.

Miranda's words broke Govek out of his worry and into confusion. "She what?"

"Oh, nothing," Miranda said. "Let's go."

With each step away, Govek gained back a little more control, was able to clear his mind a little further. The whispering voices around them and skewering gazes felt different this time. They were not so harsh and hot. They did not churn up his guts so terribly .

There was now no reason for Oakwall to refuse to trade with him, to stop him from moving forward. He could hunt for the humans regularly and obtain everything Miranda wanted. Keep her safe, happy, and whole.

"I cannot believe..." Govek shook his head as the scene played out in his mind all over again.

"I can," Miranda said, as they rounded a bend in the path, leaving the trade behind them. No one followed. "People like that always crumble when what they want is suddenly snatched away from them. They say and do more and more crazy things until the mask they wear slips, and they can no longer hide their cruelty."

His brow pinched as he examined her brooding expression.

"Did you see how pissed your dad was when you looked at me to make the decision about Yerina instead of him?"

Fuck. " Don't ."

She looked up at him with wide eyes and he regretted his harsh tone, but still he had to warn. " Don't, Miranda. I wanted to tear him apart."

She hummed, stroked his arm. "Your dad really doesn't like his control taken away, does he?"

He could not recall a time his father had ever lost any of his control, so he could not answer that question. Chief Ergoth had always been the pinnacle of authority and lived to ensure the clan prospered.

He had never seen him act the way he had just now.

When he threatened Miranda . . .

He tightened his hold on his woman, wrapped his arm about her waist, and pulled her closer to his side. Ground his teeth and balled his fists and tried to work the image of his father's rage directed toward his precious mate out of his mind.

"Well, I do think the ‘oozing' was a success in the end." His eyes popped open, and she smirked at him. "Best ‘ooze' I've ever had."

"Stop."

"Ten out of ten ‘oozes.' Can't wait to ‘ooze' with Oakwall again."

"Miranda."

"Or would it be ‘ooze' on them?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, unsure if he wanted to groan or laugh. " Fuck , Miranda."

"Not a very nice picture I'm painting, is it?" She stroked the arm she was still holding tight. She hadn't let go of him even once. "But don't worry, Govek, you're the only one who can really make me ‘ooze.'"

The contrast between pleasure and disgust at the picture she was painting made him growl. "Be careful, Miranda, or I'm going to make you ‘ooze' right now."

"That a promise?" she teased, walking her fingers up his arm. He shivered with delight. His mouth began to water. His blood raced and his cock pulsed.

And then her expression fell and flattened.

His gut clenched, but before he had to press her for answers, she said, "So, how come you've lost control with Yerina but not me?"

His eyes went wide. "What?"

"She told me how you trusted her enough to lose yourself with her." She skewered him with both her words and her eyes. "But no matter how many times I ask , you adamantly refuse. "

Of course, he did. He had to. Losing control was the worst thing he could possibly?—

"Maybe you just don't like me as much?"

"That is not true," he grated, finally finding words. "Yerina is nothing next to you."

She pursed her lips, expression still unhappy, but she hadn't let go of him, hadn't pushed him away or struck him with insults or raked her eyes over him in disgust.

Instead, she put her arms around his neck.

"What are you doing, Miranda?" Hope swam in his veins, but they were still on the path, right here in the open. If any orcs or women walked back early, they would see.

Unless he carted her off into the woods. Then they would only hear and smell.

Fuck, he wasn't of sound mind.

"I dunno." She scratched at the back of his neck as he leaned down closer. "What do you think I'm doing?"

He tried to graze her lips with his, but she ducked, slunk away. His gut twisted. "Miranda?"

"I want you to tell me... what does Yerina have that I don't? What can I do to have all of you and not just pieces?"

Fuck. He needed to clear his head, but the honeyed scent of her was far too sweet and growing thicker.

What was going on in her mind? He would sell his soul to read it.

"How come Yerina got to have all of you, and I don't?"

"You're too precious, Miranda. I cannot risk losing you."

"I don't feel precious."

Her words sent a spiral of anxiety through him, and all pleasure dimmed away .

"I don't feel precious, Govek," she said again, her voice firm. "I feel like you can resist me, like I don't make you crazy, like I'm the only one who's desperate. What did Yerina have that I don't?"

"She wasn't . . . she didn't?—"

"What made you lose control with her, Govek?" she asked, reaching up to cup his face in her hands. She held him firm so he couldn't look away from her eyes. "What did she do that made her irresistible?"

"She wasn't irresistible. She was fucking harsh ." Fuck, he couldn't stop the words from spilling. "She was wicked with her complaints. Constant in her demands. She pushed and yanked and scratched until I was in bloody tatters . And then I would give in because I was so fucking lonely — fuck. "

He squeezed his eyes shut and worked the horrible memories out of his mind. Of being so fucking desperate that it made him lose himself. Of going to lengths beyond his endurance just to keep her from abandoning him. From being alone again.

"Sorry."

He blinked as Miranda brought him down into her arms. Pulled him to rest his cheek against the top of her head. Her hair tickled his nose and lips as she clung to him, allowing him to use her as an anchor until his turbulent emotions passed.

"I'm sorry, Govek. I didn't mean to bring up all those bad memories..." She wrapped her hands around his back and squeezed. Stroked. Fuck, it felt good. "I just want all of you. I want to prove to you that you can take me exactly how you want, and I'll never leave you. "

I'll never leave you . He fucking soared. His blood warmed, his chest fluttered, and his limbs trembled.

And then she began to pull away from him.

"Miranda." His voice was far too close to a whine, and it made his cheeks heat.

But she just smiled at him, stepping away. Toward the edge of the path. His body went tense.

"Let's try something else. Something I want."

Something she wanted? "I'll give you anything ."

Her grin made his heart flip. "Good, then chase me."

His pleasure snuffed out. "What?"

"I want you to chase me." She took another step back, toward the woods. "To hunt me like the predator you are."

"Miranda," he said warningly even as his blood heated. No, no, he could absolutely not give into this desire of hers. It was too dangerous. Too risky.

Even if he wanted it too.

He reached out to grab her, but she managed to evade him by skittering back a few steps. Blood pounded in his ears as the instinct to give chase flooded his veins.

" No , Miranda," he said between clenched teeth. Fuck, he couldn't even look away from her. The mischievous glint in her eye, the way she nibbled at her perfect bottom lip, the blasted gorgeous smile she blessed him with, flooding him with heat, raking his flesh with want.

She stepped away and his hands twitched.

Maybe just a little?—

No, no . He couldn't.

"I'll lose you." His throat was tight.

"You think you can't catch me before I get lost?" she teased, but his strangled expression at the mental image made her smile dim and he wanted to roar with fury over the loss. "Govek, I already told you. I'll never leave you."

He took deep, heaving breaths.

"And you're still under that magical binding, right?" She stepped back again. "So, you can't do anything that I wouldn't like."

Fuck, that was true .

"I'm not leaving. I just want to play a little game. To get that raw, carnal, sexy beast I like so much to come out and play."

The beast she liked so much. He trembled, took a step forward.

Her smile came back. "I want my big, rough orc to chase me. Hunt me like you promised you would. Drag me into the dirt and take me exactly how he wants."

Oh fuck, fuck .

He stepped forward.

The binding didn't stop him.

"I want you to pound me—hard. Use my body for your own pleasure. Use your claws on me. Your teeth ."

His teeth too? She wanted that too? As badly as he did? Would she let him scrape and nip and bite ?

Would she let him mark her as his?

Fuck, no! He couldn't. He couldn't hurt her.

But she began to unbutton her dress and his mouth went dry. He could taste her on his tongue. His teeth clenched, fangs working against his still tucked jaw.

The honeyed scent of her arousal slammed into him.

" Miranda ," he snarled, and she shuddered. Her whole body trembled.

His control teetered .

"Come and get me, tough guy ."

And then she turned on her heel and bolted.

And his rational mind evaporated with blistering need .